Chemical Basis of Life - Lesson 01

Vocabulary terms and definitions regarding the chemical composition of living organisms and biological molecules.

Natural elements

The $92$ elements that exist in nature.

Elements in the living body

Approximately $25$ elements out of the $92$ naturally occurring ones that are found in the living body.

Most common elements in the living body

Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Nitrogen.

Essential elements for survival

Elements including Sulphur, Phosphorous, Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, and Chlorine.

Oxygen percentage in the human body

Consists of $65\%$ of the main elements in the human body by mass.

Carbon percentage in the human body

Consists of $18\%$ of the main elements in the human body by mass.

Hydrogen percentage in the human body

Consists of $10\%$ of the main elements in the human body by mass.

Nitrogen percentage in the human body

Consists of $3\%$ of the main elements in the human body by mass.

Organic compounds

Chemical compounds which contain carbon.

Inorganic compounds

Chemical compounds which do not contain carbon.

Biological molecules

Organic compounds that build up the living body or living matter.

Types of biological molecules

The four categories including Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids, and Nucleic acids.